Washoe Co Huffaker Hills Reservoir Wastewater Treatment Plant, Reno, Nevada

Washoe Co Huffaker Hills Reservoir is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Reno, Nevada, within the Truckee River watershed. The plant serves a small population of around 1,000 residents, reflecting its role in a localized service area. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 454.25 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 302.83 megaliters, the facility operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point-source discharges. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Truckee River. The Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe through Nevada to Pyramid Lake, an ecologically sensitive terminal lake that supports migratory birds and endangered fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this arid region.

The plant discharges into the Truckee River basin, which flows from the Sierra Nevada through Reno and terminates at Pyramid Lake, a terminal desert lake. Pyramid Lake is a critical habitat for the endangered cui-ui sucker and supports migratory waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, which is essential for maintaining water quality in the Truckee River and preventing eutrophication in Pyramid Lake.